Barba's partner denies innuendo

Adrian Proszenko, Andrew Webster

The partner of Canterbury superstar Ben Barba has denied being the victim of domestic violence during their relationship in a statement issued by her lawyer on Saturday.

The Bulldogs issued Barba a compassionate release from the final two years of his NRL contract in order to reconcile with partner Ainslie Currie, the mother of their two children. Currie is relocating to Queensland to be closer to her family and Barba has signed with Brisbane.

Barba and Currie separated while the Dally M medallist went into rehabilitation to deal with personal problems, including gambling and alcohol-related issues. All parties vehemently denied the split was due to domestic violence at the time. However, Currie's lawyer, Campbell MacCallum, took the unprecedented step of issuing a statement following speculation a photo of Currie was going to be published on Sunday.

''I understand that it is the intention to have the issue of domestic violence within their relationship brought once again to the surface,'' MacCallum said.

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''This issue has previously been reported and rumoured throughout media outlets approximately 4-5 months ago.

''At that time Ms Currie advised that she became aware of the 'rumours and accusations about herself and Ben'. She had stated at that time when contacted that there was no violence within the relationship. It has now come to her attention once again that such rumours are circulating again due to new information which is alleged to implicate Mr Barba. Ms Currie now wishes to place on record for the final time, through myself as her legal representative, that there has never been physical violence in the relationship and that the allegations that have been put to her by various media commentators are in fact incorrect.

''Ms Currie and Ben Barba are dealing with their personal relationship and are focused on developing a close and stable relationship for themselves and their two young children.'' Canterbury chief executive Raelene Castle said the ''Family Club'' had done everything possible to support Barba during a difficult period. ''The Bulldogs are completely comfortable that we did everything we possibly could for Ben, in his support,'' Castle said.

Asked if the issue of the Currie photo had been passed on to the NRL's integrity unit, Castle said: ''There hasn't been a need to.''

2 comments

Who cares???......I sure as hell don't.

Commenter

Mke

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 01, 2013, 6:37AM

After what I have just read in the Courier Mail I cannot believe we continue to have our heads in the sand and wring our hands and say sportspeople who cannot behave reasonably with or without alcohol and not be being obnoxious, assault both women and men, and behave badly, need support and help.

They need to suffer the consequences like everyone else. Lose their job and be penalised like the rest of us, and have to rebuild their lives without being mollycoddled and have expensive celebrity rehab and be told it's all right.

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